Winter 2012

The quasi-monopoly of Chinese banks is starting to crumble as foreign banks and independent financial advisers are seeking approval to sell mutual funds to the public. Stefanie Eschenbacher takes a closer look at the countryâs clogged fund distribution channels following the once-in-a-decade leadership change.

A new Malaysia-based Islamic finance body â the Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance â has recently proposed to develop a global code of ethics and a professional development programme for scholars to address a lack of standardisation in the industry. Shahrin Shaikh Mohd of Hwang Investment Management discusses the implications.

The lack of standardisation has created a situation where one sharia adviser can claim its fund is âholierâ than others, say the participants of the Funds Global Asia roundtable held in Kuala Lumpur. They also discuss the challenges of reaching a critical mass and marketing to non-Muslim investors.Chaired by Stefanie Eschenbacher.